Personal Narrative: The Joe Louis Arena

When asked to name a favorite place, some people’s brains may be flooded with memories of different spaces and experiences they have had. But for me, it is easy. Only one place comes to mind—the Joe Louis Arena. The home of the Detroit Red Wings is a dome rich in history and uniquely located in an American city that sits uncharacteristically north of Canada. Built in 1979, The Joe has a personality all of its own. The Joe Louis Arena is my favorite place because of the pre-game experience in the city, the historical vibe of the arena, and, of course, the excitement of the greatest game in sports.
The pre-game experience of a Red Wings game at The Joe is like no other. Finding parking and joining the sea of red jerseys rambling the streets brings immediate excitement. The first stop is the famous Hockey Town Café where savory food is enjoyed while also spending time admiring all the pictures, jerseys, and history from years past. Naturally, the server will chit chat about the upcoming game and current players’ stats while game highlights are being broadcasted on immense televisions that surround the vast space. Then it is time to step out into the frigid Detroit winter with a brisk walk down the street. When passing the famous Fox Theater, the doormen call out, “Have fun at the game!” Entering the transit station, it’s time to join more fans on the People Mover, an above ground rail system that runs through downtown Detroit, weaving in and out of buildings, taking patrons anywhere from the General Motors headquarters
The pre-game experience in the city, the historical vibe of the arena, and, of course, the excitement of the greatest game in sports are all reasons to love the home of the Detroit Red Wings. This team carries so much respect and history, like the arena itself, it would be difficult to not find fun or excitement when experiencing the team and the place they call home in Hockey Town,